Europe's AI Ambition Takes Flight: JUPITER, World-Leading Exascale Supercomputer, Now Operational

Europe's First Exascale Supercomputer: JUPITER Takes the Stage On September 5, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz inaugurated JUPITER, Europe's first exascale supercomputer, marking a significant milestone in computing power. This achievement comes at a critical time as the global AI race heats up between US and Chinese technology firms. JUPITER has surpassed one quintillion (10^18) operations per second, joining an elite group of exascale supercomputers worldwide. According to the European Union, JUPITER is also 100% powered by renewable energy, making it the most energy-efficient supercomputer in its class. "This milestone is absolutely a big deal for Europe," said Kirk Cameron, a computer scientist at Virginia Tech. "JUPITER gives researchers in Europe access to their own top-level supercomputer, rather than having to rely on machines in the United States and elsewhere." The exascale threshold represents a significant increase in computing power, enabling faster processing of complex data sets. JUPITER's capabilities will boost research in areas such as AI, weather modeling, astrophysics, and biomedical research. Background: The development of supercomputers has been a global effort, with the United States and China leading the charge. However, Europe had fallen behind until now. JUPITER is the fourth-fastest computer in the world, according to the Top500 list. Additional perspectives come from experts who emphasize the importance of this achievement for European research. "JUPITER will enable us to tackle complex problems that were previously unsolvable," said Dr. Maria Rodriguez, a researcher at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). Current status and next developments: JUPITER is now operational, and researchers are eager to start utilizing its capabilities. Future plans include integrating JUPITER with other European supercomputers to create a unified network. The inauguration of JUPITER marks a significant step forward for Europe in the global AI race. As research and innovation continue to advance, it remains to be seen whether this achievement will propel Europe into a leading position or simply keep pace with its competitors. *Reporting by Nature.*